The Roaring Season

My first Sprite owned mid 1974 to early 1976, had a Roll Bar [ MANZ compliant ] fitted later in 1974.
Here it is in the car - the high tube is the soft top frame - should have taken that out.



The Roll Bar was built and fitted by Reg Cook at his workshop in Papakura.

When the car was sold the Roll Bar and Hard Top were sold separately.

The owner of this car my 3rd Sprite when I bought it in 1978 had bought Hard Top of me in 1976.
When we bought the car in 1978 he was also trying to sell the Hard Top separately. I had to persuade him to sell it to me - it still had the various AH Club stickers on it [ US and NZ ones ] - He agreed.

The car when purchased in 1978 beside " that TR4A "..



The car with hard Top removed so the dog could sit in it - 1980 -no Roll Bar



Here is the car in 1984 [ after it had been sold in 1983 ] fitted with the same type of Roll Bar.
Seen here at Napier - the Austin Healey Car Club National Rally.
A workmate owned the Alfa Romeo in the background - he lived in Napier at the time.



The Dog " Sam " like cars especially Sports Cars .. I think
1981 - The 4th Sprite ..



The car travelled up the road a whole six properties when I bought it - was owned by a neighbour and fellow AHCCNZ member at the time, Frank Coleman - The car because of its colour and owners name was known as -
" The Coleman Mustard Sprite " ..

The car, although scruffy, was very good had a great motor.
- It was modified when I owned - with a Mini Cooper exhaust manifold the pressed steel type [ not cast iron ] with the bottom piece turned 90 degrees.
- The rear shock absorb-ers [ Armstrong Lever Arm ] were replaced by Mini front shocks - removed the axle straps [ stop the axle from dropping to far ] and used the shock to perform the dual roll of shock absorb-er and axle locator -
- It ran 5.5 inch Ford widened rear wheels for a time too !

To complete the Quartet 1974 - 1981/83 [ the Red Mark 3 went to my ex-wife in 1981 sold in 1983 ]..
A photo of the second Sprite the LHD one - ex Canada. as purchased in 1978 - yes brought two Sprites in the same year - this one as a project. 1978 - 1980.

Trevor Sheffield wrote:Unfortunately even I do not have a spare copy of Ralph Watson Special Engineer as otherwise I would send you one. As it happens I loaned the last one I had, to be never returned. :-)

Just scrolling through this, the " Austin Healey " thread, as have found some stuff and making sure it hasn't already been posted when I came across this comment - a reply to " Oldfart " Rhys Nolan about Trevors book and link.
The book has recently been updated and republished I got my copy just the other day.

Trevor's image of the Cover and one of the pages ;



A good read - stories of the cars and their Histories and of Ralph - plus lots of Technical information.

Thanks again Trevor

This time 37 years ago the " 30th Anniversary of the Austin Healey " was being celebrated in Snowmass [ at Aspen ] Colorado .. Much has been posted of my and Ross [ BMC BOY ] Cammick's photo.
Have just come across the article that was published in the History Book of the event - sent to participants at the event later in 1982.
The story written by Mark Donaldson - who was the co-ordinator for the NZ participants at the event.
Mark traveled from Vancouver BC Canada with his lady Nell Holdstock in her 1961 Tri-carb.







We traveled from Los Angeles - Ventura via Flagstaff and Durango

Reading the last line of Marks article
' Since Snowmass, people have been asking " Will there ever be another one ? " I hope so. In fact we're planning a small one in Wellington, New Zealand capital, in 1984. See you there ? '

' P.S. You've got a year and a half to start saving ' .....

The 1984 Rally was held but not in Wellington it was in the Hawkes Bay - based at a Motor Camp facility in Havelock North .. There was a contingent of West Coast Americans who attended, mainly from Oregon but a couple from California. Was there for that one too !! - photos have been posted.

Traveled in these cars ; The 100 and the Wolseley, the 1275GT stayed home.

Banner photos Karsten Stelk





The Austin - Austin - Healey lighted dealer sign, Paul O'Neill's recent purchase.



AH 100 on the cover of Autocourse Magazine

AHS3802 - The car was in New Zealand in the 1960's in the hands of Fred Losee. who brought the car to NZ around 1960, passed on to Joss Timms [ E Tims ]
Was in Australia in the 1980's and back in the USA by the 1990's/2000's.

New Zealand in the 1960's



In Australia in 1992 [ disregard note on photo ]



In the USA more recently.



Names of whose archive photos are from is on the photos.

A post and photo by Karsten Stelk on the pages of " Austin Healey Owners " and " Austin Healey Sprite " Facebook pages with this car

Not much is known but Ghia - Aigle were a Coachbuilding company in Europe with Italian and Swiss connections.

Car described as " Austin Healey Sprite Ghia Aigle " on the back of the Karsten Stelk photo.



The car photo in Monchrome and slightly lightened.



There is a brief mention of " Ghia - Aigle " in this link.

" http://www.ghia-aigle.info/ "

The Ghia - Aigle -logo.

Put some of these on Ken H's Monterey 2019 thread - but the Healey's belong here too !!.
Terry Cowan photos - Terry was there and supporting the Team with the Austin A35 - seen here with its cousins a couple of Sprites and Big Brother a Healey 3000..!!.



PMO200 - a works racer ! not sure but looks it.
Standing still



and on the move !



in a group in " Town "..



More of the group.


Some Alfa's for Bruce Dyer and other " Alfisti "..

Must check for more photos !! and Tell " Tell " [ Terry ] I have " borrowed " them.

NOJ391 at Le Mans in 1953 - K Stelk archives.
The Becquart and Wilkins car - 14th car #34 the Gatsonides Locket AH 100 came 12 and the car in place13 was a Fraser-Nash Coupe of Ken Wharton and H Mitchell




another 1953 build 100 - this time a special body with a Chev v8 - Terry Cowan photo from Monterey 2019.

MG Day at Pukekohe Sunday.

Thanks ERC - is that the ex Andrew Shrimpton Car ? It was for sale again recently- had seen your photos of it at Caffiene and Classics some months ago.

A series of photos of a small scale AH collection ;

a famous Race Car ;



the Streamliner and some new car bodies off to be finished all 100's ;



The main part of the collection ;



Models from various makers including some 1950's Dinky's on the bottom shelf

Had not heard of these ACME were in the USA and made hardtops for a lot of cars from AH to Triumph - and even Corvette !!

The AH hardtop on a 100/6 ? bit of a brow over the screen though



an advert - that car has been customised a little - tail- lights



on a 3000 !. later than 1962 as windup windows .. and no side windows in the hardtop.

Thanks to Aussie Healey guy Joe Armour of a magazine cover C and CC from the UK.

AHS3701 - Sold new to David Smith through York Motors Pty Ltd, Sydney Australia
Engine #222720C body #54 despatched 4th April 1955.

AHS3901 - Sold new to Da Silva Ramos through AFIVA, France. Engine #222741 body #71 despatched 2nd July 1955.

AHS3905 - Sold new ; Imported by Austin, Sydney Australia for dealer Larke Hoskins and sold to John Crouch
Engine #222743 body #75 despatched 20th July 1955.
[B]The car was subsequently owned by Jack Davey and Sam Miller amongst others - see more of the History in a post of 12th November 2019 [ today as I write this ][/B]

AHS3906 - Sold new through Austin, Melbourne, Australia Engine #222748 body #76 despatched 22nd July 1955.

Photo of the four cars at the Australian Grand Prix meeting in 2006.
Photo by Marshall Cass from the Archives of Paul O'Neill in Australia.



another photo of the David Smith car AHS3701, at Gnoo Blass in 1955.



AHS3905 at Bathurst in 1957 being driven by Sam Miller



Another well known Australian AHS3807 in 1982 with Joe Jarick and another 100S - in Queensland.
Car on the left has a NSW Registration Plate, so presume Joe's car is the one on the right. Identity of this car being sought.

AHS3807 was " Invoiced to - J. J. Concalves Sucrs., Lisbon, Portugal Engine number 222737 Body number 65 - despatched 25.5.55 [ 25th May 1955 ]
- Quote Geoffrey Healey book " Austin Healey -the story of the Big Healey's "..



AHS3807 in 2018 in Queensland


Joe and Lyn Jarick in AHS3807 in 2018.



Paul O'Neill owns one of the 100S but unsure of the Chassis number - presume one of the above cars but not AHS3905. - Will check that out and amend the post.

*** Errors being corrected the Joe Jarick car, which Joe and Lyn have owned for 40 years or so is AHS3807 and not AHS3905 - clarification from Mark Donaldson of the AHCCNZ who has known Joe, Lyn and the Car for many years [ probably the 40 or so ]

Some pictures posted before but now grouped together.

John McKechnie wrote:At last, a Healey that is pleasing to my eyes....

John Mck - this needed a reply !! I must have been asleep, ZZZZ Mate -

Healey 100
Healey Nash
or
Healey 100 ??
OR
Healey 100S





or


OR


For their time and with the American Influence the Nash Healey is a great looking car, in my mind though it is the AH 100 .. a bit biased of course.

And the Thread cracked the 250,000 views, long way to go to get to ERC with over 850,000 .. even with my 8 threads only at 640,000 - " so much to do, so little time !! "

Labour charges at Kerbside Motors - the English branch of the Company.

Sign in the workshop


Meanwhile at the Spare Parts Counter .....


This was at the local branch of the business back in 1980's.

Cards from the 1980's sent to me in 1983 the first two and 1985 the last one - by the people who owned the cars.

Bill Bolton had just acquired this Racer - at the time he owned ABL6 - the Modsport car and UJB141 the Sebring Works car that rolled in a big way and was rebuilt.
Bill has sold all the cars - ABL6 is back in the UK, unsure of the whereabouts of the others.



The late John and Shirley Wilson, from Eugene Oregon - their [ one of their ] 3000. Card from 1983



The Wilson Family and two of their cars another of that 3000 and a Sprite - photo from 1985 - colours have faded on this one !!

Two rather different Austin Healeys seen at Goowood.

Milan, Thank you - I guess you are now back ? Hope you had a great trip .. On my Bucket List !! Goodwood ..

BU 1629 owned by the Heasley family back in the 1960's -a photo from 1966.
Car became IF4514 ** This now is incorrect but I knew of IF4514 in the late 1980's and have several photos of it. car is Red as

This detail from Mark Donaldson, founder 1st President and again President of the Austin Healey Car Club of New Zealand.

" I purchased this great car in 1971 and it was the reason I founded the Austin-Healey Car Club in 1972. It had a racing history from the early days when the late Phil Neill owned and campaigned it. He fitted it with Dodge flat-top pistons sponsored by Hepolite. A very quick car. "

The Heasley Family photo - from 1966 - the plate would have been issued in the 1964-65 Registration Year.
Photo from Colin Heasley of his brothers car - the same photo appears on the Carjam website.
Note April 2022 ; Registration Plate BU1629 - issued in 1964. Car has Yellow Registration Sticker - centre of windscreen, for 1966 -67 year.
Understand no sticker for 1964 -65 - first year of new plates and the 1965 - 66 sticker was green.



A couple of my photos of IF4514 ** from the AHCCNZ Rally in Masterton in 1989.



a closer view of IF4514 **



Carjam shows the following;

The Plates History is inaccurate as original plate issued BU1629 in 1964 year - first of the new plates the July 1996 date is for the personalised version [ re-issued ]

" Plates History

Plate Effective Date
BU1629 23-Jul-1996
IF4514 04-Mar-1977
Registration

Registration Status: Get Full CarJam Report
Plate: BU1629
Plate Type: Personalised
Origin: NZ New
Used as: Private Passenger vehicle
Cause of Latest Registration: New
NZ First Registration: 04-Mar-1977
NZ Last Registration: Get Full CarJam Report
Was Registered Overseas? No '

The Car details ..

" Year: 1954
Make: AUSTIN
Model: HEALEY
Colour: Red
Body Style: Sports Car
Plate: BU1629
Engine No: N/A
Chassis: 159475 " *** see note below

More to come on this car - if I can get more info from Mark Donaldson.....
There is some conflicting information about the Number Plates = Registration ..

It appears that Carjam have merged two cars details as BU1629 is Chassis Number 159745 and not 159475 .. so correct designation is BN1-159745 .. It would seem that IF4514 is 159475 - but will seek confirmation.
*** Information from Mark Donaldson of AHCCNZ - in fact Mark states that his owning BU1629 the ex - " Phil Neil car in 1971 is one of the reasons he started the Austin Healey Car Club of New Zealand in 1972 ".

More to come on this - to confirm IF4514 the Gary Weaver car which is the Red 100 in my photos.